What about Israel [the nation]? (Romans 11:11-33)
11 I say then, have they [Israel] stumbled that they should fall [fail]?
Certainly not!
But through their [Israel's] fall, to provoke them to jealousy,
salvation [a special relationship with God] has come to the Gentiles [the nations].
12 Now if their [Israel's] fall is riches for the world [the Gentiles],
and their failure riches for the Gentiles,
how much more their [Israel's] fullness!
13 For I [The Apostle Paul] speak to you Gentiles;
inasmuch as I am an apostle to the Gentiles,
I magnify my ministry [to the Gentiles],
14 if by any means I [Paul] may provoke to jealousy
those who are my flesh [Israel] and save [ that salvation] some of them.
15 For if their [Israel] being cast away [from special status]
is the reconciling of the world [the Gentiles in relationship with God],
what will their [Israel's] acceptance be but life from the dead [restoration in their special relationship with God]?
16 For [an analogy] if the firstfruit is holy [devoted to God], the lump [source] is also holy; and if the root [source] is holy, so are the branches.
17 And if some of the branches [Israel] were broken off [the unbelieving Jews in Jesus as the Christ], and you [Gentiles who believe Jesus is the Christ], being a wild olive tree [the same Gentiles], were grafted in among them [the Jews who did believe Jesus is the Christ], and with them became a partaker of the root and fatness [the privileges and blessings as God's special people for His purposes] of the olive tree,
18 [believing Gentiles] do not boast against the branches [the Jews who do not believe who were “cut off” from the place of privilege and blessing].
But if you [the same Gentiles] do boast,
remember that you [Gentiles] do not support the root [source of privilege and blessing], but the root supports you.
19 You [Gentiles] will say then, "Branches [unbelieving Jews] were broken off that I [believing Gentile] might be grafted in [the place of privilege and blessing]."
20 Well said. Because of unbelief they [Jews] were broken off, and you [Gentiles] stand by faith.
Do not be haughty, but fear.
21 For if God did not spare the natural branches [Israel], He may not spare you [Gentiles] either.
22 Therefore consider the goodness and severity of God: on those who fell [unbelieving Jews], severity; but toward you [believing Gentiles], goodness, if you [Gentiles] continue in His goodness. Otherwise you [Gentiles] also will be cut off.
23 And they [Israel] also, if they do not continue in unbelief, will be grafted in [the place of privilege and blessing], for God is able to graft them in again.
24 For if you [Gentiles] were cut out of the olive tree which is wild by nature [outside the place of privilege and blessing], and were grafted contrary to nature into a cultivated olive tree [the place of privilege and blessing, as Israel was in], how much more will these [Jews], who are natural branches, be grafted into their own [Israel's] olive tree?
25 For I do not desire, brethren [believers in Jesus as the Christ], that you should be ignorant of this mystery, lest you should be wise in your own opinion, that blindness in part has happened to Israel [the nation of Israel] until the fullness of the Gentiles has come in [the completion of the time with the Gentiles in the place of privilege and blessing through belief in Jesus as the Christ].
26 And so all Israel [“all Israel” as in the nation as a nation of people] will be saved, as it is written: "The Deliverer [Jesus] will come out of Zion [the Second Coming of Jesus ascending to the Mount of Olives] , And He will turn away ungodliness from Jacob [the salvation of Israel, Individually and nationally, their “life from the dead”];
27 For this is My covenant [the “New Covenant” fulfilled as prophesied in Jeremiah 31:31-34] with them, When I take away their sins [the remission of sins]."
28 Concerning the gospel they [Israel, unbelieving Jews] are enemies for your [believers in Jesus as the Christ] sake, but concerning the election [God's choosing of Abraham's seed] they [Israel] are beloved for the sake of the fathers [Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob—the promises made to them].
29 For the gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable [what God as determined and promised can not be undone].
30 For as you [Gentiles] were once disobedient to God, yet have now obtained mercy through their [Israel's] disobedience,
31 even so these [Jews] also have now been disobedient, that through the mercy shown you [Gentiles] they [Jews] also may obtain mercy.
32 For God has committed them all [Jews and gentiles] to disobedience, that He might have mercy on all [Jews and Gentiles].
33 Oh, the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are His judgments and His ways past finding out!
Romans 11:11-33
